Liquid dispensing device



G. CLARE Jan. 2, 1968 LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Sept.

FI G.2

INVENTOR. George Clare ATTORNEY Y B Y United States Patent Jersey FiledSept. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 490,264 ll Claim. (Cl. 222-489) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This invention is directed to a liquid dispensing devicewhich is adapted to be fitted to a relatively large mouth opening of acontainer, bottle or the like for facilitating the pouring of the liquidcontent therefrom, and to prohibit the surging of the liquid through themouth opening of the container. The pouring device comprises essentiallya tubular member having a diameter substantially less than that of themouth opening of the bottle and which tubular member is concentricallydisposed with respect to the mouth opening of the container. A laterallyextending flange is connected adjacent the upper end of the tubularmember to define a closure for the annular mouth opening of thecontainer circumscribing the tubular member. The tubular member isprovided With a full open upper end portion and a bottom wall portionwhich is extended into the neck of the container. A plurality of spacedlongitudinally extending slots or openings are formed in the wallportion of the tubular member between the bottom end and the laterallyextending flange. An elongated nipple circumscribing a vent opening isconnected to the bottom wall and is arranged to extend inwardly of thecontainer.

This invention relates generally to a pourer construction, and morespecifically to a pourer construction for use as an in-bottle pourer fordispensing a fluid or liquid therefrom.

Heretofore, much difficulty has been encountered in pouring a fluid, asfor example, a liquid from a container, bottle or the like into a glassor receptacle. This difliculty is particularly aggravated when a liquidis dispensed from a container or bottle having a relatively large sizemouth opening, as for example, the mouth opening of a gallon or halfgallon jug. This difficulty was encountered because the mouth opening ofsuch containers is so large that in dispensing a liquid therefrom thereusually resulted an uncontrollable surging of liquid through the mouthopening. For this reason, it frequently happened that much of the liquidbeing dispensed was spilled beyond the periphery of the glass orreceptacle into which such liquid is being poured. This same diflicultyis encountered when a liquid is being poured from a regular sizedcontainer or bottle to a relatively small glass or receptacle. Thepourers heretofore utilized in an effort to obviate this difliculty wereconstructed so that they could only be applied to the mouth opening ofthe bottle or container only after the original cap had been removed.Consequently, after each pouring operation, it was necessary to removethe pourer from the container before the container could be capped withits original closure to prohibit evaporation and/or accidental spillageof the liquid from the container.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a pourer whichcan be readily utilized as an in-bottle pourer to obviate the abovenoted disadvantages, and which when placed within the mouth opening of acontainer will not interfere with the structure of the original closureor cap of the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pourerconstruction which can be readily fitted into the mouth opening of acontainer and which is constructed and arranged to define separate anddistinct liquid flow passages and air venting passage to result in anuninterrupted, smooth, spill-proof, fluid flow when the container hasbeen tilted to dispense the fluid or contents therefrom.

Another feature of this invention resides in a pourer construction whichprohibits uncontrolled surging of the liquid therethrough upondispensing of a liquid from its container.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved pourerconstruction which permits the last remnant portion of the liquidcontained within the container to be dispensed therefrom.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved pourerconstruction which is relatively simple in construction, can beinexpensively fabricated, and which is positive in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an in bottle pourer whichcan be readily applied to the opening of a container whereby the regularclosure of a container can be readily threaded over the neck of thebottle with the pourer in place therein.

The foregoing objects and other features and advantages of thisinvention are attained by a pourer construction adapted to be fitted tothe mouth opening of a container, bottle or the like. The pourercomprises essentially a tubular member having a diameter which issubstantially less than that of the mouth opening of the bottle adaptedto receive the same. A laterally extending flange is connected adjacentthe upper end of the tubular memher to define a closure for the bottleopening. The flange is provided with means whereby the pourer may bedetachably secured to the mouth opening of the container.

In accordance with this invention, the tubular member is provided with afull open, upper end portion and a bottom end wall which extends intothe neck of the container. A plurality of spaced slots or openings areformed in the wall portion of the tubular member. The openings arewholly disposed between the bottom end wall of the tubular member andthe flange. Accordingly, the openings define a plurality of fluidoutlets for dispensing the fluid from the container during a dispensingoperation. A means on the bottom end wall of the tubular member isprovided to define an opening for venting the interior of the containerto the atmosphere in dispensing the fluid therefrom to result in asmooth, non surging, spill proof flow.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of an improvedpourer construction which can be readily utilized as an iu-bottle pourerand which is constructed to define an air venting passage which isseparate and distinct from the fluid flow passageways wherein each isrendered operative regardless of the position in which the container isheld during a dispensing operation to dispense a fluid therefrom in acontrollable manner.

Another feature of this invention resides in a pourer constructionhaving fluid flow passageways which will allow draining of the lastremnant portions of the liquid from the container in which such poureris utilized.

Another feature of this invention resides in an improved pourerconstruction which can be utilized as an in-bottle pourer and which,when in position, will not interfere with the conventional closure capfor sealing the mouth opening of the container in which such pourer isutilized.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent whenconsidered in view of the drawings and specification in which,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a pourer construction.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a sectional view of a pourer construction of FIG.1, as applied to the mouth opening of a container or bottle taken alongline 22 on FIG. 3.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified pourer constructiontaken along line 4-4 on FIG. 5, as applied to the mouth opening of acontainer.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the modified pourer construction of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 a pourerconstruction it) embodying the concept of the instant invention. Asshown, the pourer 1d is applied to the mouth or neck opening 11 of acontainer 12., as for example, a bottle or the like adapted to contain afluid content. In the illustrated form of the invention, the neckportion 11 of the container may be provided with external threads 13adapted to receive a screw cap or closure 14 of generally conventionalconstruction.

The pourer of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a tubular portion or member 15which is adapted to be inserted into the mouth opening 11 of the bottle12. The diameter of the tubular member 15 extending into the neck ormouth opening 11 of the container is substantially less than that of themouth opening 11. A laterally extending flange 16 is connected to thetubular member 15 adjacent the upper end thereof to define the closureor seal for the mouth opening 11 of the container. A circumscribing depending skirt 17 is integrally formed with the peripheral edge portionof flange 16. The inner periphery of the skirt 17 is provided with aninwardly projecting bead 18 to detachably secure the pourer to the neckof the bottle by frictional engagement, as shown.

The upper end of the tubular member 15 is provided with a full open end19 which is circumscribed by an outwardly flared pouring lip 20. Thelower end of the tubular member is provided with a bottom Wall 21.

In accordance with this invention, a plurality of elongated slots oropenings 22 are circumferentially spaced about wall portions of thetubular member. As shown, the c-ircumferentially spaced openings 22 aredefined as elongated slots which are wholly contained between the flange16 and the bottom end wall 21 of the tubular member. These openings 22define fluid passageways through which the contents of the container 12is dispensed whenever the container is tilted into a dispensingposition.

A means is provided in the bottom end wall for venting the container toatmosphere to effect fluid flow during a dispensing operation. In theillustrated form of the invention, the venting means comprises a nipple23 extending from the bottom wall 21. The nipple 23 is provided with alongitudinally extending bore 24 which connects the interior of thebottle 12 to the atmosphere. It will be noted that the diameter of thebore 24 which defines the vent opening is substantially less than thatof the tubular member 15.

In operation, it is to be noted that when the container 12, with thepourer 10 properly secured to the mouth opening 11 thereof, is tiltedinto a dispensing position, the initial surge of the fluid or liquidthrough the pourer is initially retarded by the bottom end wall 21 ofthe pourer. Accordingly, as the air is venting into the interior of thecontainer through the bore of the nipple 23 the liquid displaced by theair flowing thereinto is dispensed through the openings 22 formed in thecircumferential wall port-ion of the tubular member and out through theopen end 19 of the pourer 10. In this manner, it is to be noted thatthere is no interference between the air venting into the container andthe liquid dispensing therefrom. Accordingly, the separate, distinct andpositive separation of the venting means 23 and fluid flow passageways22 results in the elimination of any gurgling and/or surging of theliquid as it is being dispensed from the container 12. Accordingly, asmooth, uniform stream or flow is attained over which an operator canexercise considerable degree of control in the pouring of a fluid from acontainer to a receptacle.

With the pourer construction 10 described, it is rendered possible topour from a container of any given size a quantity of liquid withoutspilling and/ or over-shooting the glass or receptacle adapted toreceive the same.

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate a modified form of the invention. In thisform of the invention, the construction of the pourer 3 is substantiallysimilar to that hereinbefore described with the exception that thedepending skirt 31 by which the pourer 3i? is frictionally secured tothe mouth opening 32 of the bottle or container 33 is defined as adepending skirt 34 which is integrally connected to the flange 35 at apoint spaced inwardly the outer periphery thereof. Accordingly, thearrangement is such that the depending skirt 34 is provided with adiarreter which permits the same to be inserted into the mouth opening32 of the container. Means in the form of serrations or threads 36 andthe like circumscribe the outer surface of the skirt 34 to provide afirm frictional securement between the depending skirt 34 and theinternal circumference of the mouth opening 32 or neck of the container.Accordingly, the pourer 34) of this embodiment can be readily secured tothe opening 32 of the container 33 by simply inserting the skirt 34 intothe mouth opening in the nature of a cork or the like. In operation,this pourer 39 operates in a manner similar to that herein described.

Also, it will be noted in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 that aconventional cap structure 37 can be readily threaded on the neck of thebottle with the pourer 30 in place therein to seal the mouth opening.Consequently, once the pourer St) has been initially disposed within theneck of the bottle, it can be maintained therein for the life of thecontainer.

From the foregoing description, it will become appar cut that therespective embodiment it) and 3t disclosed herein are rendered operativeregardless of the manner in which the bottle is held for dispensing theliquid or fluid therefrom. Consequently, in any dispensing position, therespective pourers 10 and 30 are constructed so that the air is ventedinto the bottle through the bore of the nipple connected to the bottomend walls thereof, simultaneously as liquid displaced thereby is beingpoured therefrom through the pourer openings. The arrangement is suchthat there is no interference between the air venting into the containerand the fluid being displaced thereby to result in a smooth, welldefined stream that can be readily controlled.

Each of the respective pourer embodiments 10 and 30 is simplyconstructed, and can be integrally formed of a suitable plasticmaterial. Accordingly, the respective pourer embodiments are light inWeight, inexpensive and nontoxic. Also, pourers 10 and 30 are renderedreadily expendable with the container in which they are utilized.

While the instant invention has been described with reference to severalembodiments thereof, variations and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a container having a neck portion defining arelatively large mouth opening through which the contents of saidcontainer may be dispensed regardless of the manner in which thecontainer is tilted and for controlling the flow of fluid through saidrelatively large mouth opening, the improvement comprising (a) anintegrally formed pourer fitted to the mouth opening of said container,

(b) said pourer including a tubular portion adapted to extendconcentrically through said opening and into said container,

(c) said tubular portion being defined as a cylinder having a diameterwhich is substantially less than that of the mouth opening,

(d) said tubular portion having a full open upper end portion and an endwall at the bottom thereof, said end wall being disposed in the neckportion of the container so as to be in direct contact with the fluid inthe container during a pouring operation,

(e) a laterally extending flange connected to said tubular portionintermediate the ends thereof,

(f) said flange defining a closure for said mouth opening circumscribingsaid tubular portion, whereby the portion of said tubular portion belowsaid flange ex tends into the neck opening of said container,

(g) means for frictionally securing said pourer to the mouth opening ofsaid container,

(h) said tubular portion having a plurality of elongated, slottedopenings formed therein,

(i) said openings being wholly confined between said flange and thebottom end wall of said tubular portion, said openings beingcircumferentially spaced about said tubular portion to define a fluidoutlet in dispensing the contents of said container therefrom regardlessof the direction in which the container is tilted during a pouringoperation,

(j) and means for venting the interior of said container to theatmosphere in dispensing the contents of said container,

(k) said latter means including an elongated nipple connected centrallyto the bottom of said tubular portion, and extending inwardly into saidcontainer,

(1) said nipple having a bore extending therethrough to vent saidcontainer, and

(m) said bore having a diameter which is substantially less than thediameter of said tubular portion,

(n) the bore of said nipple having one end venting directly into theinterior of said container, and

(0) said container having external. threads formed about said mouthopening,

(p) and a closure adapted to be threadably connected to said mouthopening to seal said opening with said pourer in place therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,695 9/ 1959 Kirschenbaum222-421 2,411,435 11/ 1946 Kirschenbaurn -1 222-421 2,718,987 9/ 1955Kimball 222-207 X 2,796,205 6/1957 Kuzrna 222-464 3,091,373 5/ 1963Kirschenbaum 222-479 3,098,586 7/ 1963 Wasserberg 222-478 3,181,7445/1965 Hales 222-569 X FOREIGN PATENTS 775,066 5/ 1957 Great Britain.873,459 7/1961 Great Britain.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

25 KENNETH N. LEIMER, Examiner.

